AnchorMommy

Springtime grass growing project

April 14, 2010 by Shannon

I’m happy to report that in the midst of all the chaos of preparing to put our house on the market, I have managed to nurture and grow a plant. This is big because I don’t really have a green thumb. And this not just any plant, mind you. With Kellan’s help, I have watched a crop of lush, green grass spring up in my kitchen window. Wheatgrass! The same kind they make “shots” out of at smoothie shops. Growing it was  a cinch. And I tell you what – with the absolutely miserable and often winter-like weather we’ve been experiencing, it’s really nice to stand at my kitchen sink and gaze at the lovely green lushness thriving before me. It’s a nice reminder that change is coming, and change is good. (That should be my mantra right now. I’m trying to stay  zen-like about this house move, but I have a propensity to worry incessantly.)

This is a very simple project, and it’s great for little hands to help with. In fact, if you’re lucky enough to have one those heavenly spring days my area is lacking in lately, you could do this project out on the lawn. But if the weather won’t cooperate, it’s quite easy to do indoors as well. Remember that you need to do a little legwork on this project the day before you start planting, but believe me, it’s simple. Here’s how to do it:

1. Soak the wheatberries. They need to sit in water for 24 hours – no more, no less. You can usually find wheatberries in the bulk section of your local grocery store, usually near the other grains. At my grocery store, they are kept near the oatmeal and quinoa.
2. Choose your container. I cut off the lids of two produce containers, one for raspberries and one for grape tomatoes. I wanted something clear so we could see the roots grow into the dirt. (I also lined them with clear plastic wrap so the dirt didn’t fall out of the holes.) But you can really use any container you want. I think it would be cute to plant the seeds in an can, like a soup can.
3. Fill the container about 2/3 full of potting soil.
4. Drain the wheatberries and spread in an even layer on the soil. Resist the urge to bury them! They need to sit on TOP of the soil. The layer of wheatberries doesn’t have to be thick, but don’t space them out too sparsely either.
5. Mist well with water, cover with clear plastic wrap and put in a sunny spot. That may be indoors or out. Just make sure your container doesn’t sit out in the cold all night!
6. Mist several times a day. The grass should be nice and lush in about a week and a half!

One thing to note: you only need to leave the plastic wrap cover on for a day or two. It’s helpful at first to create a “greenhouse” effect, but you don’t want to leave it on too long because it will stunt the little sprouts’ growth.

Once it’s grown, you can actually snip it and eat it! Kellan was quite tickled by this idea. And wheatgrass is super good for you. If you’re like me and don’t have a juicer, you can simply blend some wheatgrass into a smoothie. In fact, it would be great to use in my Green Slime Smoothie recipe! (And if you happen to have some leftover kale from the smoothies and some unsoaked wheatberries from the grass growing project, you could also go ahead and make my Kale and Wheatberry Wrap! Aren’t I helpful?)